A New Direction

A little bit about my family – my husband works away from home (Afghanistan) and is only home a brief amount of time every few months. He was just home and we had a wonderful time together, our sons (8^th & 4^th graders) are always anxious and excited for when Daddy gets to be home, so the time when he has to leave are always very hard on us – especially so with the holidays. While hubby is home, I take a break from my blog and any other volunteer activities to concentrate on him.

Two years ago, I became a stay at home mom, which was a huge scary step for me. I had always worked, but with my husband gone for 9 months out of the year, our sons getting older and my full-time work consuming so much of my time, I felt God was leading me to stay home. Instead of obeying what God was telling me, I asked my husband if I could work just part-time – I thought that might be ‘good enough’; but if you didn’t know, when God tells us his plan for us, He doesn’t change His mind or say, ‘you know what, I didn’t think of that, maybe your way is better’. So part-time didn’t really work, instead I was doing the same amount of work in less time and even more stress, with less pay – so after ‘letting go and letting God’, I quit working all together. When I had prayed on this, God gave me a word (or direction, if you prefer) He basically told me that my new ‘job’ was to raise our sons the way God intended them to be raised, to be godly young men – not of this world.

Several things have happened in the time since, I’ve grown spiritually and I know I’m far from done in that capacity; I also started this blog and my Facebook page, and every blog I’ve written has increased my faith on how God can use someone like me, to reach and teach people all over the world. Now I believe God has given me the next step to this adventure – homeschool. It’s a big step of faith and it’s one I believe God has been preparing me for, no way would I have been able to do this when I first quit working –but now, I believe I am at the place where God wants me to take on this challenge.

My boys and I are all home sick today with the flu and since we couldn’t attend our church services, we had church at home. In the lesson today we talked about Matthew 14:22-32, where Jesus walked on the water and Peter stepped out of the boat in faith. I was able to use the example of Jesus telling Peter to ‘come’ and how his faith was strong while he focused on Jesus but when he let the distractions of the world overcame him, he began to sink; as an example of God giving me the word to quit working, raise my children as godly men and now to homeschool. When I made the mistake of just part-time work, I began to sink - it was when I focused on God and quit all together that I began to grow in faith and have come to where I am today. I can’t be distracted by what I, others or the world thinks, God’s given me direction – I’m to focus on Him and His Word and follow His direction.

God doesn’t lead us into trouble, He leads us to blessings; yet the devil will do his best to distract us - to try and get us off the path we’ve been given. This path might not be for everyone so remember – God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. I’ve been praying for continued guidance and subtle little things have been given to me to confirm the direction we are going, my sons are excited and anxious to start homeschooling – we’ve discussed what it will be like and what is expected of them and of myself. We know this will be a huge change for us all and we know this is not a task to be taken lightly, but I’m so thankful for this wonderful opportunity. I’m not sure of the direction of my blog in all of this; but I know that no matter where this adventure leads us, our faith will only grow stronger and blessings will follow.

Overflowing and Obedience

Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.  And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. (John 2:7-8 NKJV)

Jesus told us that he is the Living Water, when we are filled with Him, we can do miracles. But only when we are overflowing, do we have the ability for someone to draw out of us.

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38 NKJV)

We are spiritual beings with spiritual tanks; we have to continually fill ourselves up in order to do the work of God. Have you ever gone a long time without eating, you know that cranky, edginess that comes over you when you’re physically on empty – that’s the same as our spiritual selves. If we haven’t filled ourselves up, we can’t do the work of God. 

Each and every one of us has a purpose that God has given, that purpose requires us to be obedient. Just like the servants whom Jesus commanded to fill those 30 gallon waterpots with water; I'm sure they were wondering why in the world they were doing all this – yet they did it.  

We don’t always get to see the how or why, but we can be confident that if God has urged us to do something, that it has a purpose. Just like filling those waterpots – the purpose wasn’t known and it was a lot of work, but a miracle was able to take place because Jesus' servants listened and obeyed.

Darkness and the Light

Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.  Turn away and keep moving. (Proverbs 4:14-15 NLT)

What caught my eye here was verse 15 – Don’t even think about it! How many times do we let our thoughts drift off where they don’t need to be. Do you know that most sins don’t happen ‘out of nowhere'. A person has to give that sin a thought first, if we are not careful to push that thought out of our head, if we are not being defensive, that thought can setup in our minds. That’s how the enemy can gain a foothold on a person; giving into a thought, thinking about something/someone/someplace that doesn’t need to be thought upon. If you allow your mind to stay captive with the wrong thoughts, to prevent that foothold from becoming a stronghold, you need to get rid of the thought and replace it - replace it with the Word of God. That’s why in the rest of Verse 15, we are told, to ‘turn away and keep moving’. Don’t stop and think about it, get out – have you ever watched a movie and known the ‘bad guy’ was hiding in the dark room or alleyway, and you’re yelling at the TV for the person to ‘get out, why are you going down a dark abandoned alleyway, you know nothing good ever comes from that!’ it’s the same thing with us.

The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over. (Proverbs 4:18-19 NLT)

They don’t make many horror movies with scary scenes all in daylight for one reason, when the light is shining all around us, we feel safe, we tend to not dwell on thoughts we shouldn't. But when it’s dark and we can’t see where we are or where we are going, that’s when it’s dangerous.

One of my favorite songs based on Psalm 119:105 was ‘Thy Word’ by Amy Grant: (just a few lyrics)

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet

And a light unto my path

I will not forget

Your love for me and yet,

My heart forever is wandering.

Jesus be my guide,

And hold me to Your side,

And I will love you to the end.

When I feel afraid,

And think I’ve lost my way.

Still, You’re there right beside me.

Nothing will I fear

As long as You are near;

Please be near me to the end

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet

And a light unto my path

God’s Word is a light for us, HIS Words are instructions for us, teaching us how to navigate this life. We are spiritual beings in a fleshy body, with worldly desires and a mind that has spent more time being taught about the physical world than the spiritual world – so we are in desperate need for instructions on how to live in a world that is only our temporary home. It's like going to foreign country without a guide, a map or a translator - you will get lost, confused and frustrated and probably end up where you don't want to be. 

So many times I’ll find a million excuses not to read my Bible or spend time with God, but the second that I do start reading my Bible – I can’t put it down, it’s like that ice cold refreshing drink of water when you’re so incredibly thirsty, you can’t stop drinking it! The enemy knows we are stronger when we spend time in the Word, he knows that it is our greatest weapon and with it we not only can help ourselves, but we can help others as well. He will do what he can to keep us out of GOD's Word and with the modern day distractions, he doesn't have to do much work, lots of times we do the work for him.

I joke that I don’t have much will power any more and I’m serious when I say that, that’s why it’s so important to develop habits. When you do something regularly you are less likely to stop doing it, simply because its become a habit. I worked out every morning at 4am the last few years I worked, when I retired, I stopped waking up at 4am to work out, thinking I could work out anytime during the day – WRONG! Because I got out of that habit, I developed new habits to fill in that time and I’ve been struggling to get back into a routine where I am working out again. So make it a habit to pick up your Bible at a set time of day, in the same place in your home, something that will develop into a habit to where you won't have to think about it, you'll just do it out of reflex.

Some people need accountability, I’m also one of them! I follow our church’s daily bible reading plan on my iPad. Everyday, it pulls up the chapters I’m reading for the day and when I finish my daily chapters, I get a ‘check’ mark. This is ideal for me, I like to see a To Do list and I like to see it checked off as well, so this keeps me accountable. I might fall behind once or twice during the week, but I always catch up before the end of the week so I can see that lil' check mark with the percentage telling me how close I am to completing the Reading Plan. If accountability is what you need to keep you reading your Bible, find a Bible plan and start one. I use YouVersion's app on my iPhone & iPad, which also can be used on my computer, if you prefer the touch and feel of a Bible, there are plans you can print out as well. If you are new to reading the Bible, start with one of the first 4 Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) and then go into Acts, Romans, and the rest of the NT (there's lots of ideas on what plan is best, I just think new Believers should start with the NT before they jump into the OT); the plan I'm following is Project 3:45 Plus.

My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words.21 Don’t lose sight of them.  Let them penetrate deep into your heart,22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.  (Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT)

You see, if we pay attention to the instructions we’ve been given in the Bible, it will bring LIFE and not death to us, it will cause HEALING – not just physically but emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Let GOD’s Word sink deep into our heart, keeping all the worldly things out, and that's where we find LIFE. Because we must protect our heart, it determines the steps we take, so if we put the Word of GOD into our hearts, we will follow the path HE has for us, the path that leads to LIFE!

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.26 Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.27 Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. (Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT)

Those detours of life, the ones that pull us away from GOD and the path HE has before us – they are a dangerous distraction that only leads to pain and destruction. No one likes to learn lessons the hard way, so don’t get off the path, stay on the path GOD has set out before you. Keep HIS Word in your heart, follow HIS instructions, keep yourself from unneeded pain and stay in the light where you belong – we are new creations in Christ, that is creations of the Way the Truth and the Life!

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.  There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.   And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:1-6 NLT)

We know The Way, we just need to follow The Way!